The position of "little"

[Mac]

a little = 少し a (little) bit = （ほんの）ちょっと、ちょっぴり

(1) I a little know.
(2) I know a little.
(3) I know a little bit
(4) I a little bit know.

(5) I'm a little tired.
(6) I'm tired a little.
(7) I'm tired a little bit.
(8) I'm a little bit tired.

I'm confused.
I don't think every sentences are correct.
Would someone please explain about "little"?

[GoldCoinLover]

Originally Posted by Mac

a little = 少し a (little) bit = （ほんの）ちょっと、ちょっぴり

(1) I a little know.
(2) I know a little.
(3) I know a little bit
(4) I a little bit know.

(5) I'm a little tired.
(6) I'm tired a little.
(7) I'm tired a little bit.
(8) I'm a little bit tired.

I'm confused.
I don't think every sentences are correct.
Would someone please explain about "little"?

Sure. I know english very well, and have a very high grade in english at school. I am learning japanese myself. The word little can be confusing in english. Like kanji, you can use little different ways. The sentence structure is different in english; it's not like japanese. In japanese I think little is "chotto".

(1) I a little know. <--- This one is not correct. It should be: "I know a little."
(2) I know a little. <--- Correct
(3) I know a little bit <--- Same as "I know a little.". It means the same thing.
(4) I a little bit know. <--- Not correct.

(5) I'm a little tired. <--- I'm is just a more easy way of saying, "I am.". This is correct. This sentence means you aren't tired much.
(6) I'm tired a little. <--- Not correct.
(7) I'm tired a little bit. <--- It just means the same as "I'm a little tired."
(8) I'm a little bit tired. <--- Not correct.


If you need anymore help, please let me know. I'd love to help you out.


Good luck!

(8) I'm a little bit tired. <--- It means the same thing as (7). In english, you can switch things around and it still means the same thing. I know it can be confusing, but keep at it. And most importantly, ask questions! The more you ask the more you learn!

Please disregard the first reply to (8). I'm tired and can't seem to find a way to edit it. Anyway, read what I said the second time about (8).

Oh, and in your signature it says to please correct you in any errors you make. Here's an mistake you madeThis is what you said)

"I don't think every sentences are correct."

This should say: "I don't every sentence is correct." I can't really explain this one, it's just how english works.

This should say: "I don't think every sentence is correct." I can't really explain this one, it's just how english works.

Grr, I'm really tired, sorry.

[Mac]

Oh, Thank you so much, GoldCoinLover.

I should have asked them more earlier. (^^;

I know a little.
I know a little bit.
I'm a little busy.
I'm busy a little bit.
I understand the meaning a little.
I understand the meaning a little bit.



Thank you again.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Mac

Oh, Thank you so much, GoldCoinLover.

I should have asked them more earlier. (^^;

I'm busy a little bit.

I should have asked them earlier. Never say "more earlier."

I'm a little (bit) busy.

[Mac]

Oh, Thank you so much, Elizabeth.
That is so good to know.

I should have asked them earlier. (practice)

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Mac

Oh, Thank you so much, Elizabeth.
That is so good to know.

I should have asked them earlier. (practice)

Although it sounds a little better without 'them.'

What's the most natural Japanese translation?

（もっと）早く聞いたらよかった。（？）

[Mac]

それらのことについてもっと早くに質問してればよかっ たよ。
I should have asked of them earlier. (^^;;;

I guess.. (^^; hehe

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Mac

それらのことについてもっと早くに質問してればよかっ たよ。
I should have asked of them earlier. (^^;;;

I guess.. (^^; hehe

Ahh, I had no idea Japanese could be even more complex than English

Mac's translation is closer to 'I should have inquired about them earlier.'

[Mac]

I had no idea Japanese could be even more complex than English.
日本語が英語よりもさらに複雑になることがあるなんて 考えなかった。(?) (^^;

even = [比較級を強調して]さらに、なお

inquire = ask より形式ばった語

I can't understand the Japanese meaning.
Maybe like "maybe-probably", "although-though" ? (^^;;;

http://www.excite.co.jp/dictionary/e...42&offset=1684

[Elizabeth]

I think you can use 聞く、尋ねる、質問する、問い合わせる、or 調べる、to mean ask or inquire depending on the sentence. 英語のAskかInquireかを意味するために
「聞く、尋ねる、質問する、問い合わせる、or 調べる」というそのうちのどれでも使われる場合が多い です。（？）

これはなかなかよくできますね。

[Mac]

Thank you for your explanation.
That is good to know.

I hate conjecture sentences and the others. (^^;;;
could, will, would, guess, think, probably, maybe, suppose, et cetera...

of course = absolutely.
tottaly = something. I've forgotten. (^^;

never mind. Forget everything what I said.

[Elizabeth]

No ploblem, Mac. But if you would, could you please try and correct my Japanese as well.

[Mac]

Oh, sure. I will correct your sentences, if I can and they are incorrect.

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英語のAskかInquireかを意味するために「聞く、尋ねる 、質問する、問い合わせる、or 調べる」というそのうちのどれでも使われる場合が多い です。（？）
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英語のAskとInquireを意味するのに「聞く、尋ねる、質 問する、問い合わせる、調べる」などが使われる場合が あります。

I don't understand why you said 「これはなかなかよくできますね。」. hehe

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Mac

Oh, sure. I will correct your sentences, if I can and they are incorrect.

--------------------------------------------------------
英語のAskかInquireかを意味するために「聞く、尋ねる 、質問する、問い合わせる、or 調べる」というそのうちのどれでも使われる場合が多い です。（？）
--------------------------------------------------------
英語のAskとInquireを意味するのに「聞く、尋ねる、質 問する、問い合わせる、調べる」などが使われる場合が あります。


ありがとうマクさん！

I don't understand why you said 「これはなかなかよくできますね。」. hehe

It was a little joke.
ただ冗談言ってるだけなんだけどですよね。

I meant "Isn't this better than the last one ?" Don't you like my Japanese here better than the last sentence ?
この文は前の文よりもうまいと思いますか？　　

「マク好みの突っ込みですよ」として、という意味にな るみたいな感じでしょうか？
　

[Mac]

It was a little joke.
（ただ冗談言ってるだけなんだけどですよね。）
Translating this sentence is a little difficult to me. (^^; hehe.

それは少しの冗談だったんだよ。(This sentence still sounds strange.)

Oh! There are some examples of the sentence in my dictionary.
It's just a joke = 「怒らないで」「ほんの冗談だから」「ほんの冗談さ」 「ほんの冗談だよ」 (^^;;

I meant "Isn't this better than the last one ?" Don't you like my Japanese here better than the last sentence ?
つまり（ええと）、「これは最後のやつ(？)より良くな い？」「あなたは前の文よりここの私の文が嫌いですか ？(^^; I'm not sure.)」ということだったのですが。

[blessed]

(this is from way back, but...)

The reason why people say "i don't think every sentence is correct" is because you are only refering to one of the sentences:

"I don't think any one sentence is correct"

but if you say

"I don't think any one of these sentences are correct"

you use the plural as what precedes "sentence" is a plural.

in other words, "every" is singular.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by blessed

(this is from way back, but...)

The reason why people say "i don't think every sentence is correct" is because you are only refering to one of the sentences:

"I don't think any one sentence is correct"

but if you say

"I don't think any one of these sentences are correct"

you use the plural as what precedes "sentence" is a plural.

in other words, "every" is singular.

Actually no. "i don't think every sentence is correct" could be either singular or plural, most likely however referring most likely to multiple sentences.

More naturally we do use 'any' or 'any one' though, to mean all....

"I don't think any one of these sentences is correct"
OR "I don't think any of these sentences are correct"

not "I don't think any one sentence is correct" (although "any one" is singular, it sounds like you don't know which one is wrong)